Retail news

• Debenhams Group boosts profit expectations and decides to retain PrettyLittleThing

  28-01-2026 10:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Debenhams Group has boosted its outlook for the financial year in its latest trading update.
  The retail giant reported it was trading above expectations for the year to 28 February 2026. It also noted that its full year adjusted EBITDA ((Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)) for total operations was now expected to come in at £50m, up from its previous guidance of £45m in November.
  Debenhams said that this was a result of “the continued momentum
  
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• Dr. Beckmann launches campaign to tackle textile waste

  29-06-2026 16:21 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  White clothing is more likely than any other colour to end up in landfill, according to new research from Dr. Beckmann and circular fashion business Reskinned.
  The study found the average Brit throws away eight white garments each year, adding up to an estimated 440 million items across the UK annually.
  To highlight the issue, Dr. Beckmann unveiled an installation on London’s South Bank featuring a five-metre-high mound of discarded white clothing. Fronted by Judy Murray, the display was c
  
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• Vinted finds no evidence of criminal activity after viral trafficking claims

  29-06-2026 16:13 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Vinted has said it has found no evidence of criminal activity on its platform after social media users claimed some listings were coded adverts linked to child trafficking.
  Screenshots of listings, mostly for toys, have circulated across TikTok, Instagram, Reddit and X in recent days, prompting speculation that some adverts contained hidden references to children.
  The posts pointed to details such as age, height, gender or race appearing in product descriptions, as well as unusually high prices,
  
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• Nike teased 2027 German football shirt with help from Jamal Musiala

  29-06-2026 15:48 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Sportswear firm Nike has teamed up with German footballer Jamal Musiala to hijack Germany’s game in New Jersey.
  The activation aimed to tease the German squad’s 2027 shirt and premiered on 25 June.
  As part of the campaign, a Nike branded barge will sail across the Hudson River with the message ‘Hallo New Jersey’.Devised by creative agency Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, it also featured a spot with German footballer Mario Götze and streetwear brand 6PM founder Achraf.
  This
  
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• Introducing The Fashion Think Tank: Inside fashion, not observing it

  29-06-2026 15:43 via theretailbulletin.com
  The Retail Bulletin is proud to announce a partnership with a new platform that does something the fashion media world has been missing: puts the people... View Article
  
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• Harvey Nichols owner explores sale after mounting losses

  29-06-2026 15:42 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Harvey Nichols owner Sir Dickson Poon is reportedly exploring a sale of the luxury department store chain after years of losses.
  The Hong Kong billionaire, who has owned the business for 35 years, is understood to have appointed advisers to examine options for the retailer, which could include new investment or an outright sale.
  FTI Consulting is reported to be advising on the process in the UK, while Derya Akyuz is handling global markets.
  Harvey Nichols is understood to be in active discussion
  
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• Delivery robots could be heading for England’s pavements under new law change

  29-06-2026 15:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Delivery robots could soon become a much more common sight outside shops, restaurants and homes across England as ministers prepare to support legal changes allowing them to operate on pavements.
  The government is expected to update the law around low-speed autonomous delivery devices, paving the way for wider use of pavement robots across towns and cities.
  The move could open up a major new last-mile delivery channel for retailers, grocers and takeaway operators, with robots already being used
  
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• Returns reform: how retailers are rewriting the rules without losing customers

  29-06-2026 14:32 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK retailers could risk losing £34.1 billion in sales due to “strict” returns policies, according to new research released this month. While the statistic highlights the connection between a transparent returns policy and conversion rates, it fails to capture the complexity of ecommerce returns.
  As ecommerce sales volume grew, so did return rates. Retailers were suddenly faced with soaring reverse logistics costs and unsustainable shopping habits.
  Free returns may have initiall
  
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• Ford rehires veteran engineers as AI quality systems disappoint

  29-06-2026 13:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ford has rehired 350 veteran engineers after the artificial intelligence and automated quality systems it was relying on failed to deliver the standards the company was aiming for.
  The engineers, including former Ford employees and specialists recruited from suppliers, have been brought in to identify potential issues before parts reach the production line, according to Bloomberg.
  Kumar Galhotra said: “We had been relying more and more on automated quality systems.” He added that the
  
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• Retail’s customer experience problem: Shoppers don’t want channels, they want answers

  29-06-2026 13:44 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  It’s a phrase you hear within the retail industry constantly, but it’s never been more true – the customer doesn’t think in channels.
  They don’t care whether their problem started on a website, moved to a chatbot, ended up in a contact centre, or needs a store colleague to fix it. They care whether the retailer knows who they are, what’s happened, and what needs to happen next.
  That’s where many retail customer experience strategies still fall down.
  Reta
  
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• Kenneth Liu on how SHEGLAM has grown in the UK

  29-06-2026 12:47 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Singaporean beauty brand SHEGLAM was launched in 2019 by ecommerce platform Shein.
  It has grown exponentially in the UK over the past few years and SHEGLAM’s General Manager of Europe Kenneth Liu explains how the brand has grown its presence in the UK.
  He says the biggest driver of growth for SHEGLAM within the UK market, is the brands “product innovation and clear differentiation from other brands”.
  According to Liu, it takes a three step approach to innovation, its first its
  
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• Charlotte Tilbury introduced to select Boots stores

  29-06-2026 12:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Luxury cosmetics brand Charlotte Tilbury will be available in 31 Boots stores from July, as the two beauty giants partner for the first time.
  The Puig-owned brand,  founded by makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, will introduce skin care, makeup and fragrance products in Boots’ locations such as Aberdeen, Chester, Leeds, Derby and Plymouth.
  “My mission has always been to empower everyone, everywhere to feel and look like the most beautiful, confident versions of themselves,” s
  
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• Apple and Xbox raise prices as AI drives up chip costs

  29-06-2026 11:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  Apple and Microsoft have raised prices on some of their products as the cost of memory and storage chips continues to rise.
  Apple has increased prices on selected MacBooks and iPads around the world, with some products rising by almost 20 per cent.
  The tech giant cited the price hike to rising demand for chips used in AI data centres, which has pushed up costs across the electronics industry.
  In a statement, Apple said: “We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we ha
  
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• Iran and US agree to renew talks over Strait of Hormuz

  29-06-2026 11:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Iran and the United States have reportedly agreed to halt recent military strikes and resume talks over their dispute in the Strait of Hormuz.
  According to Axios, the two sides are expected to meet in Qatar on Tuesday after agreeing to renew negotiations following several days of escalating attacks in the Gulf.
  The reported breakthrough follows accusations from both countries that the other had breached an interim agreement reached less than two weeks ago to end their four-month conflict. Relate
  
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• Conversation with… Matt Randle, general manager of Dreamland Bedding

  29-06-2026 10:26 via theretailbulletin.com
  Here we chat with Matt Randle, general manager of Dreamland Bedding, a finalist in this year’s People in Retail Awards, about learning, leadership, and what it... View Article
  
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• West Elm and Pottery Barn open John Lewis Liverpool concessions in UK rollout

  29-06-2026 10:19 via theretailbulletin.com
  West Elm and Pottery Barn are continuing their rollout in John Lewis stores with the opening of concessions in John Lewis’s Liverpool store. The launches by... View Article
  
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• Portmeirion hires Denby duo to accelerate turnaround plan

  29-06-2026 09:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Portmeirion Group has strengthened its senior leadership team with two commercial hires from Denby as it pushes ahead with plans to return the business to growth.
  The Stoke-on-Trent homewares group has appointed Jane Mason as UK and Europe director and Hayley Baddiley as group marketing director. Both will join the business on 1 July 2026 and report to recently appointed chief executive Michael Scheepers.
  Mason joins from Denby, where she was UK and Ireland managing director. She previously spen
  
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• Harvey Nichols owner seeks sale after heavy losses

  29-06-2026 09:33 via theretailbulletin.com
  The billionaire owner of Harvey Nichols is understood to be considering selling the struggling department store chain after years of losses. According to reports, Sir Dickson... View Article
  
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• JD Sports axes final Hip stores as it pares back UK estate

  29-06-2026 09:33 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  JD Sports is closing the last two physical stores of its Hip brand, as it continues to sharpen its focus on bigger and more profitable locations.
  The Hip store on Thomas Street in Manchester closed on 28 June, while the Leeds branch on Vicar Lane is expected to shut before the end of the month.
  The decision will remove Hip from bricks-and-mortar retail, although the brand will continue to trade online through its website.
  Hip was founded in Leeds in 1987 as an independent menswear store, before
  
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• Hype to High Street: Turning online hype into meaningful growth

  29-06-2026 09:30 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Social media has become one of the most influential forces now in play for UK high streets, writes Dan Edelman, UK general manager, merchant services at American Express.
  Dan Edelman, UK general manager, merchant services at American Express
  According to new research by American Express, conducted with Retail Economics, it’s estimated that social media now drives 1.7 billion high street visits annually in the UK. Behind every one of those visits is a shopper who has viewed and engaged with
  
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• Government urged to investigate JD.com’s UK expansion

  29-06-2026 08:05 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Labour has been urged to investigate Chinese retail giant JD.com’s UK expansion amid concerns it could pose an unfair threat to British retailers.
  The calls come after the online retail group, which owns Joybuy, stepped up its push into the UK as it looks to challenge Amazon and other major ecommerce players.
  According to reports from The Telegraph, Alicia Kearns, the shadow national security minister, said JD.com’s growth plans in Britain should be “thoroughly scrutinised&rdqu
  
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• Accent Group rejects Frasers’ ‘highly opportunistic’ takeover bid

  29-06-2026 07:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Accent Group has urged shareholders to reject Frasers Group’s A$390.8m (around £206million) takeover offer, describing the bid as “highly opportunistic”.
  The Australian sports footwear retailer said its independent board committee had unanimously recommended investors take no action and not sell their shares into Frasers’ on-market bid.
  Frasers, which is Accent’s largest shareholder, offered A$0.65 cash per share for the shares it does not already own.
  However
  
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• Ocado faces investor pressure as tech growth dream falters

  29-06-2026 07:50 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado is facing mounting pressure from investors as doubts grow over whether its grocery technology business can deliver the scale of returns once promised.
  The online grocer turned automation specialist has spent years trying to reposition itself as a global technology provider, selling its warehouse robotics and software to international supermarket partners.
  However, The Times reported that investor patience is wearing thin after a series of setbacks, including weaker online grocery demand, s
  
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• Morrisons AI push helps deliver £940m savings

  29-06-2026 07:43 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Morrisons boss Rami Baitiéh has said the supermarket’s increased use of data and AI has helped deliver £940m in savings over the past three years.
  The grocer announced earlier this year that it would ramp up its use of data, automation and AI as part of a wider cost-cutting drive, which included job cuts across all functions at its Bradford head office.
  In a LinkedIn post, Baitiéh said many businesses were investing heavily in AI “but often without a clear, genuin
  
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• UK business growth expectations hit weakest level of 2026

  29-06-2026 07:41 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  UK business growth expectations have fallen to their weakest level this year, as retailers, manufacturers and services firms brace for another difficult quarter.
  The Confederation of British Industry’s latest growth indicator found that companies expect private sector activity to decline further over the next three months.
  Its gauge of expected output volumes fell to -28 in June, down from -24 in May, marking the lowest reading since December 2025.
  The survey, which covered 848 companies b
  
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• Co-op strategy director Tom Bradley exits for Deliveroo

  29-06-2026 07:38 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Co-op group commercial & logistics strategy director Tom Bradley is leaving the retailer to join Deliveroo.
  Bradley, who has spent almost six years at Co-op, will depart the business this summer before joining the on-demand delivery giant as commercial director later this year.
  In a LinkedIn post, he said his departure marked “the end of a chapter”, adding that he was “incredibly proud” of what had been achieved during his time with the retailer.
  Bradley said Co-op ha
  
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• Matalan extends debt facilities to 2029 as turnaround continues

  29-06-2026 07:22 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Matalan has secured extensions to its debt facilities as it continues to push ahead with its turnaround plan.
  The fashion and homeware retailer said anchor investors Invesco, Tresidor, Man Group and Napier Park had agreed to extend the maturity dates on its existing debt facilities.
  The facilities, which had been due in December 2027 and January 2028, will now mature in April 2029.
  Matalan said the move reflected continued investor confidence in the business and its long-term transformation stra
  
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• Ocado boss Tim Steiner’s £94m pay haul sparks governance concerns

  29-06-2026 07:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner has received almost £100m in payouts since the online grocer floated in 2010, despite its share price now sitting below its IPO level.
  Analysis of Ocado’s annual reports by the High Pay Centre found the co-founder has collected £94m in pay and share awards since the business listed on the stock market.
  The campaign group said the figure raised “serious concerns about proportionality, accountability and fairness” in the company&rsquo
  
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• Matalan secures debt extensions to 2029 amid continued turnaround

  28-06-2026 23:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  Matalan has secured extensions to its debt facilities in continued backing from anchor investors. Invesco, Tresidor, Man Group and Napier Park have all agreed to extend... View Article
  
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• Interview: Cornish Bakery fires gun on RISE concept

  28-06-2026 23:26 via theretailbulletin.com
  The opening of the largest Cornish Bakery outlet – in Portsmouth Harbour – out of its estate of over 80 outlets moves the business beyond baked... View Article
  
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